Record 2m iPhone 5 orders received

NEW YORK - Apple received more than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 in just 24 hours, the company said Monday, pushing back many deliveries into October because of strong demand. “iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. Apple unveiled the new version of its iconic smartphone last Wednesday and opened up pre-orders on Friday. The company said the hot item would be available in 100 countries around the world by the year-end. The first customers in the United States and several other countries are expected to get the device September 21, but Apple said some would have to wait. “Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October,” an Apple statement said. Apple’s US website said orders placed would be shipped in two to three weeks. The iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store and its retail stores, and for US customers through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and other resellers.